Computing-machine.



G. 0. DEGBNER.

COMPUTNG MAHINE.

APPLIGATION FILED Nov. s, 1910.

Patented Jan. 2, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

G. o. DBGBNBR. COMPUTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 8, 1910. 1,01 3,378. Patented Jan. 2, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 24 t-he aforesaid tens-carrying pinion.

GUSTAVE O. DEGENER, OF NEW YORK, N. MACHINE COMPANY, 0F NEW YORK,

Y., ASSIGNOR TO UNDERWOOD COMPUTING N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

COMP UTING-MACHINE.

Specieatlon of Letters Patent.

Patented J an. 2,1912.

.Application lcd November 8, 1910. Serial No. 501,269.

To all 'whom z't may concern.'

Be it known that I, GUs'rAva O. DEGENER, a citizen of the United States, residing in New York city, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain ncwand useful Improvements in Computing-lilachines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to the tens-carrying mechanism of computing devices, particularly those of the kind disclosed in the application of Walter Wright, No. 485,046, led March 22, v1909, also application of Y'Valter Wright and Gustave O. Degener, No. 543,603, tiled February 12, 1910, in which a constantly revolving device is called upon intermittently to assist in carrying tens from one computing wheel to the next. As set forth in said applications, each main com uting wheel is provided with a special toot Vwhich turns a pinion that is in mesh with the computing wheel of next higher denomina-tion, to .the end that said higher computing wheel may make one-tenth of a revolution. The movement of this tenscarrying pinion is assisted by a constantly revolving soft-rubber roll; the pinion hav ing a set of points or lugs to engage said rollito be turned thereby, whereby suiiicient assistance to' the tens-carrying pinion is assured.-

In my co-pending application No. 590,- 839 filed November 5, 1910, there is employed, in place of 4the softrubbcr roll aforesai a set of yieldingly mounted pinions havin fine teeth adapted to engage teeth provi ed upon the assisting lugs fixed to Normally, the constantly revolving pinion is out of mesh with the teeth on said assisting lugs; but at the proper time the movement of said assisting spurs or lu of the main computing wheel will cause one to mesh with the constantly revolving pinion, whereby the latter is enabledlto assist in the turning of the tens-carrying pinion. Since the constantly revolving pinions are yieldingly mounted, they are sure to mesh properly u s, since they will yield if the lug teeth areirgnf properly presented' to them.A

The ob]ect of the present invention is to provide an improved construction of yield-F lng auxiliary pinions for the tens-carrying mechanism, w11 l: a view to rendering the devsary for all the pinions to y rotating s vice more reliable and substantial, more easily manufactured and kept in order, and more serviceable. I employ, in place of thc solid shafts shown in other constructions, upon which to mount t-he auxiliary' pinions. a spring-pressed shaft which is iliade up of a series of sections connected end to end by any suitable universal joints. several of the auxiliary pinions being preferably mounted on each section. This sectional construction permits one pinion to yield at the tens-carrying operation, Without rendering it necesyield; and only that section upon which the particular pinion is mounted is substantially affected by the pressure at the tens-carrying operation, Whilefit of course remains connected at its ends to the unaffected sections, so that all the sections may revolve together at 'all times. Separate springs may be provided for returning the shaft sections to normal positions after displacement thereof.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a sectional side elevation of the carriage of an Underwood front strike writing machine, shoiving, a computing carriage con nected to the typewriter carriage and provided vvith the present improvements; the

construction corresponding in large part Witli that shownin sald applications. 1g. y 2 is a view to illustrate the connection of the drive gears with the computing devices seen at Fig. 1. Fig. 2 shows the end of the com` puting carriage. F ig. 3 is a rear elevation of certain portions of the mechanism on the computinfr carriage, including the constantly lhaft and the auxiliary tens-carrying pinions thereon. ',Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a train consisting of a single number Wheel, two computing wheels, a pinion for carrying -tens from one computing wheel to the next, an auxilia pinion to assist at the tens-carrying operation, a icxble shaft on which the auxiliary pinion is carried, and certain of the yieldmg journal boxes for said tiexible shaft. Fig. 5 is a view of the tenscarryin pinion, showing an auxiliary lobed wheel red thereto; this view being taken from the opposite side from that shown at Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one of thesections that form the auxiliary tensach primary computing wheel 1 is ink the form of a gear in mesh with a ear 2, the latter fixed uion a number w ieel 3. Each computing wheel 1 has a series of ten interior notches 4, whereby it, is rotated. The rotation is effected by an interior master wheel 5, having opposite teeth 6 working in the notches 4; said master wheel iixed upon a shaft 7 rotated by a gear 8. Rotation of the gear 8 is elfected or controlled by keys in any .suitable manner, as for instance in the manner illustrated in said applications. The gangs of computing and number wheels are mounted in carriage 9 to travel step-by-step, to enable the master wheel 5 to operato consecutively u on the primary computing wheels 1, as set .orth in said applications; said gear S being in mesh with the gear 8al that is connected to the power-driven key-controlled escapemen't.

Unce in each revolution of each primary computing wheel l, a special tooth 10 thereon sets in motion a tens-carrying pinion 11, which is in mesh with the primary wheel 1 of next higher denoiniiiat ion, whose diameter is twice that of the pinion; said piuioii being provided for this purpose with a set of live equally spaced projections 122` e11- gageable consecutively' by said special tooth 10, at successive revolutions of the computing wheel 1. The tooth 10 does not necessaril turn the pinion 11 through an entiri` on`efth of a revolution, and hence does not necessarily turn the next computing wheel 1 through oiie-tenth of' a revolution. The necessary movement of the pinion 11 and of the next higher computing wheel 1 is assisted or in part effected by one of a series of power-driven and usually constantly revolving auxiliary pinions 13; cach pinion 11 being provided, for this nrpose, with a series of five lugs, spurs or obes 14, forming an auxiliary w eel; the tips of the lobes or points 14 havin teeth or serrations 15 to match those of t ie pinion 13. A. detent roll 16 is seated in one of five notches 17 between the points or lobes 14. Said roll 1G is carried on an arm 17, pivoted at 18, and held by a compression spring 19, occup ing a hole in a bar 20. The movement o the tenscarrying pinion 11, originally effected b the s ecial tooth 10 of the computingr whee is sul cient to bring a point or lobe 14 into mesh with the auxiliary pinion 13. Since the latter is in constant motion, it will operate to drive the pinion 11 positively in tho saine direction until the latter completes its movement through one-fifth of' a revolution. The movement of the tens-carrying pinion 11 is completed by said detent roll lo, und the teeth 15`are carried out of mesh with 13, the latter normally occupying one of the recesses 17, as shown.

The pinions 13 are spaced at intervals along a constantly revolving flexible shaft 22, extendihg along the gang of tensfcarry ing pinions 11, said shaft constan: 5y rotated by any suitable soui'ce of power1 as .set forth in said application No. 543,603. Said shaft '20 is formed of a series of independently .yieldable sections placed end to end and connected by universal joints, so thalthey all revolve together as one shaft: u simple but suitable universal joint for this purpose consisting of overlapping ends 23 formed on the ends of the sections, making :i loose plain rabbeted scarf joint, as shown.

The outer tips Aof the end sections of the shaft 22 are journaled in boxes 21, working in fixed guides 25. to slide in a direction to carry the shaft to and from the axes of the tens-carrying pinions 11. Springs Q6 hold these shaft sections as near said pinions 11 as they can go; the movements of the boxes caused by said springs being limited b v stop pins 2G projecting from the ends 26" of the carriage 9. Each of the intermediate sections 2Q is also journalecl between its ends in a sliding b'ox 27, having upper and lower slotted portions or hooks 28. 29, to engage horizontal rods 30, 31, fixed in the carriage 9, on which the computing wheels are mounted; (said carriage being connected by an arm 33 to the typewriter carriage 31 curi'yiiw the platen 35, on the front of which strike tlie types 3G). Said sliding boxes 27 are movable in the same direction as theend boxes 24. and arc normallypressed forward by upper and lower springs 3S, 39, the bottoms of the hooks or slots in said boxes bearing against the rods 30, 3L wherebv these middle sections 2Q of the shaft are held .in alinementwith end sections 2i.

It will be secu that the guides 25 consist of the edges of a slot formed in a plated-0` one of these plates i() being fixed to each end Q61 of the computing carriage. upon the outer face thereof.

The flexible shaft 22 is driven by a pinion 41 on its left-hand end, which meshes with a revolving pinion 42, the latter fixed upon the end ot' a square shaft lll. and this is mounted in the ends 261 of the computing carriage 6; each end of said shaft is provided with a collar or boss 14. pcriphei'ally grooved to run upon rolls 45, which run in a suitable i'ncewuy lo in each of the plates 10. Said square sliat't -13 isrotatcd by u pinion 4T. splined thereon. which has a peripherally groin-cd hub lo receive balls 48, thc lutter mounted in a race lll provided in u bran-liet SitLnliich is lixed to and pendent lltllllltuls5l..` 12nliulit niiil\\':l.\' ol' llu lt'llgll! nl' the hitler tsuid rods usually extending horizontallyacross tho upper t'ront portion ot' tht` tramo of nu luderwood trpc'writing nnu'hine). ll `will hr een that this luacket or arm 50 lies between the plates 'al-0, in which the square shaft -ll is journalcd.

The pinion 1T is rotated ln' u gear 53, fixed upon :i horizontal.shaft 51, mounted upon the framework and carrying at its other end a bevel pinion 55, meshing with a bevel pinion 5G, which is kept in constant rotation byany suitable means, as an electrical motor, as set forth in said applications. The directions of movement of the parts are indicated by arrows at Fig. 2.

Whenever any oi. the auxiliary tens-carl' ing pinions 13 is forced back by one of t e lobes 14, the pinion, together with the seetion of the shaft upon which it is mounted, yields together with the journal box 24 or 27 upon which said section of the shaft is mounted; such yielding being permitted by the flexibility of the shaft, which is secured by reason of the sections being connected and supported as shown. The springs 26 or 38 immediately restore the shaft section and pinion to normal positions, and the pinion aids in the tens-carrying operation in the manner set forth.

It will be seen that all the parts are made of metal, which is reliable and durable andcan be accurately manufactured; and that such parts may be made small and light, as required in computing mechanism which is combined with typeivriting mechanism.

It will be seen that for short adding heads, the shaft 22 may be made all in one piece. and yieldingly supported only in the end journal boxes 24. The flexible shaft is especially useful with long adding heads, so that only a few auxiliar pinions are dis` turbed at any time, thereby minimizing the resistance to the movement of the lobed Wheel 14 and its connections.

Each shaft section 22 may, if desired, have a collar 57 grooved like the collar 44, and

similarly running upon balls running in a raceway in the sliding journal box 27 similar to these in the end bars 40. At Fig. 3, it will be 'seen that the 'balls running in this collar 57 are designated as 58, and that the journal box 27 is provided with a removable plate 59, the parts 59 and 27 perforated to receive the collar 57, and beveled or grooved to form a raceway for the balls.

Variations may be resorted to within the scope of the invention, and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a computing machine, the `combination with mam computin wheels of high and low denominations, o a tens-carrying device extendingfrom one of said wheels to theA other, and a oWer-driven auxiliary pinion element; said tens-carrying device provided ivith'an auxiliary element having drive teeth normally out of mesh with said auxiliary pinion element, and movable by said computinor wheel of low-denomination into mesh 'witi said auxiliary pinion element, to enable the latter to assist in the tens-carrying operation; a shaft or axle;

one of said auxiliary elements mounted upon said shaft or axle; and a yielding beat'- ing for said shaft or axle. i

2. In a computing machine, the conibination with main computing wheels of high and low denominations, of a tens-carrying device extending from one of said wheels to the other, and a power-driven `auxiliary pinion element; `said tens-carrying device provided with an auxiliary element having drive teeth normally ont of mesh with said auxiliary pinion element, and movable by said computing wheel of low denomination into mesh with said auxiliary pinion element, to enable the latter to assist in the tens-carrying operation; a shaft or axle having bearings constructed to permit yielding movement thereof, and means to restore said Shaft or axle to normal position; one of said auxiliary elements,l mounted upon said shaft or axle.

3. In a computing machine, the combination with a gang of main computing wheels, olV tens-carrying devices extending from wheels of lower denominations to wheels of higher denominations in said gang, and a series of power driven auxiliary pinions mounted upon a yielding shaft; said tenscarrying devices provided with drive teeth normally out of mesh with said pinious, and including devices for moving said drive teeth into mesh with said pinions, to assist in the tens-carrying operations.

4. In a computing machine, the combination with la gang of main computing wheels,

of tens-carrying devices extending from wheels of lower denominations to Wheels of higher denominations in said gang, and a series of power driven auxiliary pinions mounted upon a shaft; said tens-carrying devices provided with drive teeth normally out of mesh with said pin-ions, and including devices for moving said drive. teeth into mesh wvlth said pinions to asslst 1n the tenscarrying operations; bearings being pro-` vided for saidshaft to permit a yielding movement thereof, and a spring device being provided to return the shaft to normal position.

5. In a computing machine, the combinationwith a gang of main computing wheels, of tens-carrying devices extendi-n from wheels of. lower denominations to w ieels of higher denominations in said gang, and a series of power-driven auxiliary pinions; said tens-carryin devices provided with drive teeth norma ly out of mesh with said pinions, andincluding devices for moving :said drive teeth into mesh with said yielding,r pinions, to assist in the tens-carrying operations; a shaft on whichsaid pinions are mounted, independently movable journal boxes for the ends of said shaft. to permit the shaft to yield and springs to restore said journal boxes to norma positions.

6. In a computing machine, the combina- .tion with a gang of main computing wheels,

of tens-carrying devices ext-ending from wheels of lower denominations to wheels of higher denominations in said gang, a series of auxiliary pinions, and a 'power-driven flexible shaft whereon said pinions are mounted; carrying devices provided with drive teeth normally out of mesh with said pinions, and including devices for moving said drive teeth into mesh with said pinions, to assist in the tens-carrying operations.

7. In a computing machine, the combination with agang of main computing Wheels, of tens-carrying devices extending from Wheels of lower denominations to wheels of higher denominations in said gang, and a series of auxiliary pinions, and a poiverdriven flexible shaft Whereon said pinions are mounted; said tens-carrying devices provided with drive teeth normally out of mesh with said pinions, and including devives for moving said drive teeth into mesh with said pinions to assist in the tens-carrying operations; said shaft comprising a series of sections loosely connected end to end.

8. In a computing machine, the combination with a gang of main computing wheels, of tens-carrying devices extending from wheels of lower denominations to wheels of higher denominations in said gang, a series ofauxiliary pinions, and a power-driven flexible shaft Whereon said pinions are mounted; said tens-carrying devices provided with drive teeth normally out of mesh with said pinions, and including devices for moving said drive teeth into mesh with said pinions to assist in the tenscarry ing operations; said shaft comprising a series of sections loosely connected end to end` and means for supporting the sections for independent yielding movements.

9. ln a computing machine, the combination with a gang of main computing wheels,

of tens-carrying devices extending from wheels of lower denominations to Wheels of higher denominations in said gang, a series of auxiliary pinions, and a power-driven flexible shaft Whereon said pinions -are mounted; said tens-carr vin,f ir devices provided with drive-teeth normally out ot mesh with said inionsand including devices for -moving said drive-teeth into mosh with said pinions, to assist in the teus-carrying operations; sald shaft comprising a .series of seclions looseljr conncrtcd end to end b v rabbeted 'scarf joints comprising overlapping projections provided upon the .section ends.

l0. In a computing machine, the combination uit-h a gang of main computing wheels, of tens-carrying devices extending from wheels of lower denominations to wheels of higher denominations in said gang, :i series of auxiliary pinions. and a power driven flexible shaft whereon said pinions are mounted; said tensearrying devices provided with drive-teeth normally out of meshwith said pinions, and4 including devices for moving said drive-teeth into mesh `with said pinions, to assist in the tens-carrying operations; said shaft comprising a series of sections loosely connected end to end,'jour nal boxes being provided for the ends of said exible shaft, and intermediate journal boxes being provided for the intermediate sections of the shaft.

11. In a computing machine, the combination with a gang of main computing wheels, of tens-carrying devices extending from Wheels of lower denominations to Wheels of higher denominations in said gang, a series of auxiliary pinions, anda power-driven flexible shaft whcreon said pinions are mounted; said tens-carrying devices provided uith drivcteeth normally out of mesh with said pinions, and including devices for moving said drive-teeth into mesh with said pinions, to assist in the tens-carrying o erations; said shaft comprisiner a series opscctions loosely connected end5 to end, journal boxes being provided for the ends of said flexible shaft, and intermediate journal boxes being rovided for the intermediate sect-ions of t e shaft; all of said journal boxes having springs for returning them to normal positions, and means for limitin their movements under the tension of sai springs.

12, In a computing machine, the combination with a gang of main computing wheels, of tens-carrying devices extendin from wheels of lower denominations to w eels of higher denominations in said gang, a se- .ries of auxiliary pinions, a power-driven flexible shaft Whereon said inions are mounted; said tens-carrying evices provided with drive-teeth normally out of mesh with said pinions, and including d vices'for moving saidA drive-teeth into mes with said pinions, to assist in the tens-carrying operations; said flexible shaft comprising independently yieldable end sections, and a series of intermediate sections. yieldable independently of one another and of said end sections.

13. In a computing machine, the combina from prising independently yieldable end sections,

and a series of intermediate sections yieldable independently of one another and of said end sect1ons, journal boxes for each of said end sections and said intermediate sections, said journal boxes movable independsaid tensCarrying devices provided with drive teeth normally out of mesh with said pinions, and including devices for moving .said drive teeth into mesh with said pinions, to assist in the tens-carrying operalions, and a spring device for restoring said flexible shaft to normal condition.

15. In a computing machine7 the combination with `a series of main computing wheels, of tens-carrying mechanism includ ing a power-driven spring-pressed Ashaft which is made up of a series of sections, jointsconnecting said sections end to end, and a series oitens-carrying pinions,'several of said pinions being mounted on each seetion of the shaft.

16. In a computing machine, the combination with a series of main computing Wheels, of tens-carrying mechanism including a power-driven spiing-pressed shaft which is made up of a seriesof sections, universal joints connecting said sections end to end, and a series of tens-carrying pinions, several of said pinions being mounted on each section of the shaft, separate springs being provided for returning the shaft sections to normal positions.

17. In acomputing machine, the combination with a gang of main computing wheels, of teus-carrying devices extendin from wheels of loivedenomimtions to w eelsof higher denominations in said gang, a series of auxiliary pinions and a power-driven flexible `shaft whereon said (pinions are mounted; said tens-carryin evices provided with drive-teeth norma ly out of mesh with said pinions, and including devices for moving said drive-teeth into mesh with said pinions, toassist in the tens-carrying o erations; said shaft comprising a series o sections loosely connected end to end, a series of journal boxes upon which certain of said sections are mounted, said 'journal boxes having slotted portions or hooks, fixed rods engaged by said slotted portions or hooks, and springs connected to said journal boxes near said slotted portions to restore thesame to .normal positions after displacement.

18. In a computing machine, the combination with a gang of main computing Wheels, ot' tens-carrying devices extending from wheels of lower denominations to Wheels of higher denominations in said gang, a series of auxiliary pinions and a power-driven flexible shaft Whereon said pinions are mounted; said tens-carrying devices provided with drive teeth normally out of mesh with said pinions, and including devices for moving said drive teeth into mesh witl1 said pinions, to assist in the tens-carrying q era.- tions; said shaft comprising a series o sections loosely connected end to end, a series of journal boxes upon which certain of said sections are mounted, said journal boxes having slotted portions or hooks, fixed rods engaged by said slotted portions or hooks, and springs connected to said journal boxes near said slotted portions to restore ythe same to normal positions after displacement, said flexible shaft bein mounted 1n said journal boxes by means o ball bearings.

GUSTAVE O. DEGENER.

Witnesses K. FRANKFORT, C. Rrmr.

Copies o! this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by-Jaddressing the Commissioner of Ptentl. Washington, D. C. 

